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Traffic panel OKs safety projects in N.S. |
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Sunday, 14 September 2008 |
NORTH SMITHFIELD — The State Traffic Commission Friday approved several projects that are expected to increase pedestrian safety near the North Smithfield High School and Middle School complex.
Representatives of the Rhode Island Department of Transportation met in early August with Sen. John J. Tassoni Jr. (D-Dist. 22, Smithfield, North Smithfield) and other North Smithfield officials to determine how and when improvements could be implemented to create the safest possible route for children walking to and from school at the intersection of Route 5 and Route 104.
Several of the proposals discussed at that meeting were forwarded to the State Traffic Commission, which approved four projects at its most recent meeting.
Of the proposals made to the DOT for pedestrian improvements, only one was rejected by the State Traffic Commission.
That was the request to extend school zone speed limits in the area beyond 3:30 p.m. to accommodate students and other involved in after-school programs.
Tassoni said he is appreciative "of the efforts of the DOT to work with North Smithfield officials to resolve these safety concerns, and I expect that the projects that will be done will increase the safety of students and other school personnel."
In the meantime, town officials are still looking into two other areas of pedestrian safety that were discussed at the early-August meeting but that the state DOT is unable to address.
Because it is the DOT policy not to install flashers on school zone signs, the town will consider using its own funds to install and maintain flashers on the signs to increase their visibility.
Town officials are also studying the possibility of constructing sidewalks or a paved walking path along the school grounds on Providence Pike and Greenville Road, from the high school entrance to the middle school entrance. Since there are more requests for sidewalks than there is money in the DOT budget for this type of work, Senator
Tassoni will take the lead in contacting the "Safe Routes to School" program in an effort to obtain outside funding for this work. |
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Last Updated ( Friday, 19 September 2008 )
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